Wednesday, May 17, 2017

TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND BIPHOBIA

THEInternational Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is observed on May 17 and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide.

Commemorations are taking place in almost 120 countries, in all world regions.

The day is particularly strong in Europe and Latin America, where it is commemorated with public events in almost all countries.

May
17 is also marked in multiple countries in all world regions including,
32 of the 76 countries in the world where same-sex relationships are
criminalized.

Common actions include large-scale street marches, parades and festivals. In Cuba, for example, Mariela Castro has led out a huge street parade in honor of May 17 for the past several years.

In Chile in 2013, 50,000 people took to the streets to mark May 17, and the VIII Santiago Equality march.

The
main purpose of the May 17 mobilisations is to raise awareness of
violence, discrimination, and repression of LGBT communities worldwide,
which in turn provides an opportunity to take action and engage in
dialogue with the media, policymakers, public opinion, and wider civil
society.

One of the
stated goals of May 17 is to create an event that can be visible at a
global level without needing to conform to a specific type of action.